USED FORá ... AND OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS THE DISTRICT IS MAKING. RIGHT NOW IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY HOW CLASSROOMS MIGHT LOOK IN THE FALL, BUT IF APPROVED SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN FORT SMITH AND SPRINGDALE COULD GET MORE THAN 4 MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP DEAL WITH THE CORONAVIRUS, BUT THE MONEY CAN'T BE USED TO PAY STAFF. <> "I think one of the biggest issues Brett is that we really don't know exactly what school is going to look like." school administrators are learning how ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY federal RELIEF FUNDS CAN BE USED.. they can go to FOOD SECURITY, STUDENT SUPPORT FOR CONTINUOUS LEARNING, TECHNOLOGY AND SYSTEMIC PROCEDURES SUCH AS HELPING TO KEEP KIDS AND STAFF SAFE FROM THE CORONAVIRUS. IN FORT SMITH THEY'RE STILL ASSESSING NEEDS BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS PRIORITIES INCLUDE UPDATING EQUIPMENT TO HELP STAFF AND FAMILIES BETTER C ONNECT WITH EACH OTHER WHEN SCHOOLS ARE NOT OPEN AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR WHEN STUDENTS DO RETURN TO SCHOOL, WHICH IS STILL UNKNOWN WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE. <> "when we talk about social distancing and kids being six feet apart, that's a pretty challenging thing to do with a class of 25 kids." "I want to be careful about planting a flag in one of them and say this is what we're going to do because any of those options are possible at this point." <> "the fourth quarter of this school year has been like no other." TODAY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS WERE UPDATED ABOUT END OF SCHOOL YEAR REPORT CARDS... FOR THE MOST PART GRADES are BASED ON THE THIRD QUARTER. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE GIVEN ANY LOWER MARKS BUT THOSE WHO WERE STRUGGLING COULD IMPROVE THEIR GRADEs BASED ON WORK DONE FROM HOME. THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE FOCUS IS KEEPING STUDENTS ENGAGED. <> "there's an important aspect of just community that we're missing and so the Zoom platforms and the Zoology platforms, Google platforms have given is the opportunity to keep those engagements in place." NEXT THURSDAY - MAY 28TH IS TECHNICALLY THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL AND OFFICIALS ARE STILL WAITING ON MORE GUIDANCE FROM THE STATE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATIONS THAT ARE PLANNED FOR JUL

Schools in Arkansas can apply for elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds.Fort Smith Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Doug Brubaker, told 40/29 the school district could receive $4 million out of the estimated $128 million dollars of CARES act funding for education in Arkansas."I think one of the biggest issues is that we really don't know exactly what school is going to look like in the fall," Dr. Brubaker said. "When we talk about social distancing and kids being six feet apart, that's a pretty challenging thing to do with a class of 25 kids. I want to be careful about planting a flag in one of them and say this is what we're going to do because any of those options are possible at this point."Dr. Brubaker said administrators are assessing the greatest needs of the school district and that priorities include updating equipment to enable staff and families to better connect with each other as well as personal protective equipment.Funds from the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund can be used for food security, student support for continuous learning, technology and systemic procedures.

FORT SMITH, Ark. —

Schools in Arkansas can apply for elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds.

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Fort Smith Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Doug Brubaker, told 40/29 the school district could receive $4 million out of the estimated $128 million dollars of CARES act funding for education in Arkansas.

"I think one of the biggest issues is that we really don't know exactly what school is going to look like in the fall," Dr. Brubaker said. "When we talk about social distancing and kids being six feet apart, that's a pretty challenging thing to do with a class of 25 kids. I want to be careful about planting a flag in one of them and say this is what we're going to do because any of those options are possible at this point."

Dr. Brubaker said administrators are assessing the greatest needs of the school district and that priorities include updating equipment to enable staff and families to better connect with each other as well as personal protective equipment.

Funds from the Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund can be used for food security, student support for continuous learning, technology and systemic procedures.